Bears Complete Sweep With 4-2 Victory

Bears Complete Sweep With 4-2 Victory

Sophomore Connor Gilmore tossed a complete game and senior center fielder Doug Votolato had a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh to carry the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a 4-2 victory over McNeese State on Saturday at Bear Stadium.

CONWAY, AR - Sophomore Connor Gilmore tossed a complete game and senior center fielder Doug Votolato had a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh to carry the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a 4-2 victory over McNeese State on Saturday at Bear Stadium.

The victory completed the Southland Conference sweep, UCA’s second home series sweep, and pushed the Bears’ overall record to 21-15 and SLC mark to 10-8. McNeese, which entered the weekend tied for first, dropped its fifth straight game and sits at 20-18 and 10-8.

Gilmore (4-1), from Little Rock Catholic, allowed eight hits and two earned runs, striking out four and walking one in his third complete game of the season. Cowboys’ reliever Tyler Erickson (2-1) took the loss, giving up the home run in the seventh that broke a 2-2 tie.

UCA took an early 1-0 lead when first baseman Scott Zimmerle doubled, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch by McNeese starter Bryce Kingsley. The Bears made it 2-0 in the fourth as catcher Charles Deckard and designated hitter Matt Anderson had back-to-back doubles.

The Cowboys put up two runs in the fifth to tie it, including a squeeze bunt by leadoff batter Andrew Guillotte. Gilmore got out of the inning with a double play ground ball. The Cowboys got runners to third in both the sixth and seventh innings but could not score.

After UCA took the 4-2 lead, Gilmore worked around a base hit in each of the eighth and ninth innings, ending the game with another double play ground ball to shortstop Justin Treece.

Votolato finished 1 for 4 with 2 RBI as UCA managed only six hits. Anderson had the other RBI, going 1 for 1. UCA’s starting pitchers threw all but 2/3 of an inning in the series, with Bryce Biggerstaff throwing a 10-inning complete game on Thursday to go with Gilmore’s nine innings on Saturday.

UCA hosts Arkansas State at 6 p.m. Tuesday and travels to UALR for a 6 p.m. matchup on Wednesday night.

(Courtesy: UCA Sports Information)

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